Lombard Street (San Francisco)

San Francisco’s Lombard Street begins at Presidio Boulevard all the way to the Embarcadero, but it is a short section of red bricked road between Hyde Street and Leavenworth Street which really catches the imagination. Known as the ‘crookedest street in the world’ it features eight amazing hairpin bends that snake down a steep gradient of 27% towards the bottom of Russian Hill. It may be the shortest scenic drive you are ever likely to experience during cheap city breaks in the USA, but the experience is amazing and the views looking down onto San Francisco Bay are both spectacular and vertigo inducing.

 

Lombard Street has featured in many crazy car chases on film and TV but in reality the maximum speed limit is a rather pedestrian 5mph. Looking up from its intersection with Leavenworth Street offers sightseers a scene of almost fairy-tale proportions. The road winds at incredible angles, all of which fit perfectly into a single photograph. What make it even more special are the majestic turn of the century mansions which line the street and the vibrant colour of the many roadside flower beds which are best experienced during summer short breaks in San Francisco.

 

There are steps either side of the street for visitors to climb and walking is the best way to really appreciate how steep this section of Lombard Street really is. As you struggle upwards on foot you will encounter the art deco magnificence of Coit Tower, see the famous wild parrots of Telegraph Hill flying overhead and have superb views of North Beach below. It is an incredibly popular attraction and thronged with tourists, although weekend breaks in San Francisco often see a fair bit of traffic congestion during summer months.